Bristol Pirates could trump White Sox in wins

Bristol Baseball, Inc. officials announced Wednesday that their affiliation with the Chicago White Sox has ended and they are starting a new affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Bristol Pirates will be the second level of Pittsburgh's nine-team farm system. This means Bristol will be the second stop for players climbing their way to Major League Baseball.

Under Chicago, Bristol received mostly first-year players.

"The gulf coast club will be feeding to us in Bristol," Bristol Baseball, Inc. President Mahlon Luttrell told News 5 WCYB.

"We could see more of their top round draft picks."

The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the best stories of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, recording a winning season for the first time since 1992.

In 2013, Pittsburgh’s minor league affiliates combined to post a .530 winning percentage, seventh-best among all Major League organizations.

Six of Pittsburgh’s affiliates posted records of .500 or better, and five advanced to postseason play. Earlier this year, Baseball America ranked Pittsburgh as the seventh-best farm system in terms of overall talent, according to the release from Bristol Baseball, Inc.

"It is definitely a good sign of things to come," Luttrell said.

The 2013 Bristol White Sox finished 20-45, the worst record in the Appalachian League.